A Love Song That Whispers My Name
New Orleans, Louisiana
July 9-16, 2025
Frenchmen Street
Named after a group of five French patriots — or seditionists, depending on your view — who were executed in 1769 near the river end of the street now named in their honor.
- Frenchmen Street is now recognized as one of New Orleans’ best spots for finding live jazz, reggae, and blues.
- Runs parallel to Elysian Fields Avenue
Our hotel is one block east on Decatur Street.
Igor’s Checkpoint Charlie (bar, live music, Laundromat), 501 Esplanade Ave
Located at the corner of Esplanade and Frenchmen Streets, Checkpoint Charlie is an offbeat jewel of the neighborhood. Have a bite to eat, enjoy a cheap beer or cocktail, take in some Rockabilly or Classic rock, and even do a load of laundry.
Mona’s (casual restaurant), 504 Frenchmen Street
Mona’s is a great place for cheap, casual Mediterranean fare, but one of its best features is the small grocery section. Buy baklava, coffee, and spices from the Mediterranean and make people back home think you visited New Orleans by way of Lebanon.
The Maison (live music, drinks, restaurant), 508 Frenchmen Street
Live music starts early at Maison—4 pm Sunday through Friday and 1 pm Saturdays.
Bands play traditional jazz during the dinner hours, but beginning at 10 pm, national touring funk, soul, and jazz bands rock the dance floor until the wee hours.
Three Muses (Restaurant, bar, live music), 536 Frenchmen Street
Three Muses is one of the best places to grab globally inspired small plates, get a drink, and take in the music that makes New Orleans famous. Local greats like Meschiya Lake, The Shotgun Jazz Band, and the Bailey Hinton Trio perform regularly. Restaurant reservations can be made online.
Praline Connection (restaurant, pralines, and cookies), 542 Frenchmen Street
The Praline Connection has been serving Creole-influenced soul food on Frenchmen Street for decades.
The food is good, but the cookies and pralines are even better. Be sure to stop in for a box to share with friends or family back home.
Dat Dog (hot dogs, sausages, burgers), 601 Frenchmen Street
Colorful and family-friendly, Dat Dog’s Frenchmen Street location is an excellent choice for a custom artisan sausage, a drink, and some fries. It boasts a beautiful balcony where patrons can sit and watch the melee below.
Frenchmen Grocery and Deli - 602 Frenchmen Street
Apple Barrel (Live music, bar), 609 Frenchmen Street
This bar is aptly named since it’s one of the less spacious music venues on Frenchmen Street. Still, the drinks are excellent, and the performances are nothing to sneeze at. Make sure to bring cash for drinks and to throw in the bucket sitting on the stage. Notable acts include Dre, Roger Bowie and the Midnight Visions, and Bon Bon Vivant.
Adolfo's (restaurant), 611 Frenchmen Street
Just upstairs from the Apple Barrel, Adolfo’s Italian Restaurant with a Cajun-Creole style is more reasonably priced than many French Quarter restaurants, but while the meals are low-priced, they ONLY take cash. Make sure to order the Ocean Sauce for your entrée, and enjoy one of New Orleans’ best-kept secrets.
Frenchmen Street - D.b.a. (live music, drinks), 618 Frenchmen Street
Since it opened in 2000, d.b.a has been slinging suds, cocktails, and some of the best Jazz in New Orleans.
It’s the best place to see locally famous Jazzmen like John Boutte and Glen David Andrews, who perform at a weekly residency.
Snug Harbor (live music, restaurant), 626 Frenchmen Street
For more than 30 years, Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro has hosted live music every night. This is the best place to see performances by members of the famous Neville and Marsalis clans. Be sure to check out the calendar online, but with two shows every night; you’re guaranteed a good time.